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Bridget Fuller

BA History of Art

Bridget did not enjoy school and her negative experiences had left her with a feeling that education wasn’t for her and that she would never be able to achieve academically.

Living in Cambridge, surrounded by students and academics, Bridget’s desire to try university study grew stronger and stronger.Eventually she decided to look into it seriously, and at this time a friend recommended Birkbeck. It seemed like the perfect solution for Bridget, who needed to carry on working to support herself throughout the degree.

When she enrolled, Bridget felt unsure about whether she’d be able to complete the programme. She says: 'I hadn’t studied for so long and I’d done so badly at school that I was really frightened about starting the degree. But I really wanted to have a go, so I thought I’d just enrol and see if I got thrown out at the end of the first term. I didn’t get thrown out though. I lasted until the end of the course.

'As the course went along it got easier, and without knowing it was happening I developed and learned how to study. It’s taught me not to panic when I see a large book, and to break it down into manageable chunks. I learned how to learn.'

Studying with other mature students was another benefit of studying at Birkbeck. Bridget comments: 'We had students aged from their early 20s up to the oldest in the class who was 83 years old! Everyone had different backgrounds which made it a really interesting group. Both my classmates and the tutors were really supportive.'

Having completed the Bachelor’s degree, Bridget reflects: 'Studying at Birkbeck has given me so much more confidence in myself. I feel that I can achieve more now and it’s made me feel a lot happier.

'I wanted to broaden my horizons and it’s enabled me to do that. I’d been waiting for a long time to do my degree – Birkbeck enabled me to prove to myself that I could do it.'

Bridget has now enrolled onto Birkbeck’s Master’s in History programme. She says: 'When I enrolled on my BA I didn’t know if I’d make it to the end of the first term. Now I’m starting my MA and if I get to the end of that I’d like to go even further. I will keep working as hard as I can until I reach my limit!'